Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation on MS-related Fatigue: a Randomized Control Trial

The investigators investigated the effect of a vestibular exercise program designed to help people with MS with two common problems: fatigue and difficulties with balance while standing and walking. Our primary aim was to compare the results from persons with MS that participated in the vestibular exercises (Experimental group) to individuals who participated in a more typical rehabilitation exercise program consisting of stretching and endurance exercise (Exercise Control group) or people who did not receive exercise treatment (Control group). The study was a 14-week randomized controlled trial. Thirty eighty participants were followed for four weeks before being randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant had an equal chance of being assigned to either the Experimental group, Exercise Control group or the Control group. The Experimental group received a standardized vestibular exercise program that included upright postural control (balance) and eye movement exercises (6 one-hour sessions over 6 weeks). The Exercise Control group received endurance training using a stationary bicycle and leg stretching exercises (6 one-hour sessions over 6 weeks). Both exercise groups received the same 5 minutes of fatigue management education. Measurements of self-reported fatigue, dizziness and depression, and performance of a computerized, standing upright postural control test and walking capacity test were measured to determine benefits from the interventions. Participants in the Control group did not exercise, however if they chose, received the treatment within the clinical setting upon completion of their participation in the study. The investigators hypothesized that: 1) participants in the Experimental group would improve significantly in fatigue and balance; 2) improvements found in the Experimental group would be significantly greater than improvements in the Exercise Control group and Control group. Results: Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.